Image and Temple in the Service of the State:
Tōdai-ji and the Great Buddha Project
Chronology
670
689
694
701
710
724
730
734
740
741
743
744
745
747
748
749
751
752
753
755
756
757
760
764
765
767
The original Hōryū-ji burns.
Rōben is born.
Establishment of the Fujiwara capital in the Asuka district.
Birth of future Emperor Shōmu and future Empress Kōmyō.
Establishment of the Heijō (Nara) capital.
Coronation of Shōmu.
Kōmyō proclaimed Empress.
Shmu orders the copying of the entire Buddhist canon; Kōmyō dedicates statues
at Kōfuku-ji.
Shōmu journeys to Chishiki-ji in the province of Kawachi, sees a monumental
stucco statue of Vairocana there, and vows to make a similar statue of his
own.
Shōmu orders a system of national monasteries (kokubunji) and nunneries
(kokubun niji) established.
Shōmu vows to make a giant gilt bronze statue of Vairocana.
Work on the Great Buddha is begun at Kōka-dera in Omi province 40 miles north
of the Nara capital.
Work on the Great Buddha is begun at the eastern edge of the Nara capital on the
future site of Tōdai-ji.
The casting of the Great Buddha is begun.
The statues in the Sangatsu-dō are begun are completed around 752.
Abdication of Shōmu and Kōmyō. Accession of his daughter, Kōken to the throne.
The casting of the Great Buddha is completed.
Completion of the Great Buddha Hall.
Dedication of the unfinished Great Buddha.
The arrival of the Chinese monk Jian Zhen (Jap. Ganjin) master of monastic
regulations (Skt. vinaya).
The Lecture Hall and Ordination Platform at Tōdai-ji are completed.
Death of Emperor Shōmu; Empress Kmy donates the Emperor's possessions
to Tōdai-ji, they become the collection in the Shōsō-in.
Completion of the first stage of the Tōdai-ji monastic complex. Ceremony to
celebrate the first anniversary of the death of Emperor Shōmu is held at the
temple.
Empress Kōmyō dies.
Kōken vows to found a temple dedicated to the Four Divine Kings and to make
1,000,000 miniature pagodas
Former Empress Kōken assumes the throne again under the name Shōtoku.
The east and west pagodas of Tōdai-ji are completed about this time.
770
771
773
786
789
794
803
827
Empress Shōtoku dies.
The mandorla of the Great Buddha is completed.
Rōben dies.
The rear of the Great Buddha begins to fracture.
Office for the Construction of Tōdai-ji is disbanded.
Establishment of the Heian capital.
First repairs are made to the Great Buddha.
A mound of earth is erected behind the Great Buddha to prevent it from tipping
over.
855 The head of the Great Buddha falls off during an earthquake.
861 The head is reattached and rededicated.
1180 Tōdai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, and Daian-ji are burned by the Taira clan.
1567 The Great Buddha Hall is burned again.
1692 Restoration of the Great Buddha is completed for a second time.
Important Works
Great Buddha, Great Buddha Hall, Tōdai-ji
Engravings on petals of the pedestal of the Great Buddha
Fukūkenjaku and attendants, Sangatsu-dō, Tōdai-ji
"Sakyamuni Preaching at Vulture Peak," BMFA
Four Divine Kings, Kaidan-in, Tōdai-ji
Sculptural techniques
bronze
hollow dry-lacquer
clay
Important Terms
Avatamsaka Sutra
Kegon sect
mandorla
Office for the Construction of Tōdai-ji
lacquer
wood-core dry-lacquer
wood
Daibutsu
kokubunji system
mudra